The draw for DDA Housing Scheme 2010 is expected to happen between 15th to 20th April,2011. This draw will determine the lucky 16000 applicants out of the 7.5 Lacs applications received for the scheme.

DDA will also post the status of applicants eligible for the draw on 29th March,2011. Applicants will get a chance to submit the corrrection, if their forms are found to be filled incorrectly /for missing information. Applicants should ensure that they check the eligibility status of their forms and submit corrections, if required, to qualify for the draw.

Update: The Draw for DDA Housing Scheme 2010 will be held on Monday,18th April,2011. However, the results of the draw would be available on DDA website only on Tuesday, 19th April,2011. The results will also be published in the newspapers.

Section 80 G of the Income Tax act provides for deduction from Taxable income in respect of donation made to funds and charitable institutions. These institutions must have obtained the required approval from Income Tax department.

I am covering two aspects in relation to the 80 G deduction :

1. Can I claim 80 G deduction through my employer so that it forms part my Form 16 ?

2. What are the important points to be kept in mind while donations to the trusts and institution ?

Claiming 80G deduction through employer permissible

As per clarification provided on Income Tax department website, deduction under Section 80G can be claimed through employer only in case of contribution to the institutions specified.

No deduction should be allowed by the employer/DDO, from the salary income in respect of any donations made for charitable purposes. The tax relief on such donations as admissible u/s 80G will have to be claimed by the taxpayer in the return of income. However, DDOs, on due verification, may allow donations to the following bodies to the extent of 50% of the contribution:

a) The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund;

b) The Prime Minister's Drought Relief Fund;

c) The National Children's Fund;

d) The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust;

e) The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation,

and to the following bodies to the extent of 100% of the contribution:

1) The National Defence Fund or the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund;

2) The Prime Minister's Armenia Earthquake Relief Fund;

3) The Africa (Public Contribution-India) Fund;

4) The National Foundation for Communal Harmony;

5) The Chief Minister's Earthquake Relief Fund, Maharashtra;

6) The National Blood Transfusion Council;

7) The State Blood Transfusion Council;

8) The Army Central Welfare Fund;

9) The Indian Naval Benevolent Fund;

10) The Air Force Central Welfare Fund;

11) The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Cyclone Relief Fund, 1996;

(12) The National Illness Assistance Fund;

(13) The Chief Minister's Relief Fund or Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund, in respect of any State or Union Territory, as the case may be, subject to certain conditions;

(14) The University or educational institution of national eminence approved by the prescribed authority;

(15) The National Sports Fund to be set up by the Central Government;

(16) The National Cultural Fund set up by the Central Government;

(17) The Fund for Technology Development and Application set up by the Central Government;

(18) The national trust for welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy mental retardation and multiple disabilities.

For donations made to fund/institutions other than mentioned above, you cannot claim the deduction through your employer.Hence you have to claim it while filing your return.

Keeps following in mind while making donations

1. Ensure that the fund /institution is approved by the Income tax department for deduction under this section. For check this, please ask for a photocopy of 80G eligibility certificate from the fund/institution.

2. Always ensure that the Receipt issued by the fund /institution carries the Name and address of the trust, your name, registration number issued to the trust and the validity period of the Registration. Also make sure to tally the the amount written in words and in figures.

Power Grid Corporation was incorporated as National Power Transmission corporation limited on October 23rd 1989 with an objective of forming a Nationwide Power Grid which would pave the way for integrated operation of central and regional transmission systems.

In line with this objective, the transmission assets of power generation companies such as NTPC,NHPC,NEEPC,Neyveli Lignite, NPCL,THDC were transferred to Power Grid Corporation at various points in time. On 31st Dec.1998, the company was notified as Central transmission utility by the government of India pursuant to takeover of all the regional load despatch centres.

Business of PGCIL

The core business of the company being transmission of electric power, it owns, operates and build a large network of transmission lines and related infrastructure.

The company has also diversified into Telecom sector. It is only company having Optic Fiber network using Optical ground wire on power transmission lines. It has an all India Broad Band Telecom Network of about 20,733 Kms connecting more than 129 cities across the country.

The company has license under Infrastructure provider category, NLD license for end to end Bandwith and ISP Category ‘A” license to provide internet services.

Power grid corporation also provides engineering services in power transmission business internationally

The company provides consulting services to clients in power sector in terms of building and maintenance of transmission lines.

Performance Analysis

PGCIL’s earnings are directly related to its capex plans for laying the transmission lines. It commissioned projects worth INR 6,800 crore in first 9 months of FY 11 out of the target of 9000 crore. The company targets capitalisation of 10,000 crore in FY 12.

The company has announced its plan of commissioning 1.2Lac Crore of projects in the 12th Plan which is twice the capex target of 11th Plan.

For the 9 month of FY 11 the company posted Revenue of 6178 Crore and Net profit of 1946 Crore. For FY10 the company posted revenue of 7127 Crore and Net profit of 2041 Crore.

Investment Rationale

The company provide an excellent way to invest in the Power story of India.

Aggressive Capex plans would translate into better future earnings for the company. The past trends indicates that the company has met its targets set earlier.The FY12 guidance on capitalization provides visiibility into continued momentum of strong earnings growth.

PGCIL should prove to be an ideal stock to provide the safety grid to an investor portfolio